There is a strong connection between the vitality of the nation's economy and the vitality of vocational education. The future of vocational education for the next 10 years lies in performing a key support role in economic development and in attacking national problems or preventing them from occurring. Reauthorization of the Vocational Education Act should emphasize a return of operational authority of educational services to the states and localities and redefine the federal role as one of support and facilitation. Two basic thrusts are maintained in drafts of the reauthorization--provision for enhancements of state and local vocational education and a new vehicle whereby vocational education can make a major contribution to a program of national economic revitalization and a program to reduce workforce shortages. Changes to be made in the Office of Vocational and Adult Education include deregulation (deletion or modification of regulations) of the 1976 Vocational Education Amendments and moving away from a compliance role to one of facilitation (provision of programmatic support services, national coordination, and support in developing information systems). Three key areas to which state directors should devote their efforts in the immediate future are program quality and technical scope, retraining adults, and closer collaboration with business, industry, and labor. (YLB)